PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) has defended its children’s commissioner, Noor Aziah Mohd Awal, against allegations made in Utusan Malaysia regarding the abuse case involving a disabled teenager at a welfare home.
Suhakam’s Office of the Children’s Commissioner (OCC) said it was shocked by the article published on April 15 and described it as defamatory.
“The OCC feels that the writer intended to defame the commissioner with regards to the Bella case,” it said, referring to the court case involving the Down syndrome teenager.
It stressed that Noor Aziah had instructed the commission to take immediate action as soon as Bella’s case surfaced last year.
“Pursuant to the provisions of Section 4 of the Suhakam Act 1999 (Act 597), Noor Aziah performed her duties to the best of her abilities and advised the relevant government agencies like the police and the welfare department to carry out their duties and ensure the rights and welfare of children are safeguarded,” Suhakam said in a statement today.
It added that according to Section 12 of the same act, once a charge was made, the commission could no longer interfere in the case.
“As a human rights institution in Malaysia, we respect the law and its legal institutions. The OCC believes the judge will listen to the arguments presented by both sides and justice will be served,” it said.
The OCC also noted that it took Bella’s case seriously and was doing the best under the circumstances.
“As for the allegations made by the writer, the OCC hopes that the writer does not make false claims but rather educates the public to respect the court process,” it said.
Welfare home founder Siti Bainun Ahd Razali, 30, is currently on trial on charges of neglect and abuse of Bella, 13.
She was charged under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001, which carries a 20-year jail sentence or a RM50,000 fine or both if convicted. - FMT
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